Ka‘uluokaha‘i Project Lease Financial Assessment Workshop

Overview

A financial assessment workshop was held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 for Ka‘uluokaha‘i project lease holders. Conducted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in partnership with Helen Wai LLC, the workshop provided information vital to a beneficiary’s home-buying journey.

DEVELOPER WEBSITE

Informational Workshop

Project Map

A mixed-residential community, the entirety of Kaʻuluokahaʻi will be built by Gentry Homes in multiple phases:

Increment II-D: 118 units, slated for completion in the summer 2027.
Increment II-E: 133 units, slated for completion in the summer 2028.
Increment II-F: 151 units, slated for completion in summer 2029.

Meet Our Financial Assessment Team

About Helen Wai, LLC

Helen Wai is Native Hawaiian. Reared in a hard-working and entrepreneurial-minded environment, she is the self-made business owner and the lead consultant of Helen N. Wai LLC.

Since 2001, Helen has partnered with U.S. communities and organizations to bring her powerful brand of financial literacy, home buyer education, foreclosure prevention and energy efficiency workshops and consulting to over 12,000 participants (and counting).

LEARN MORE

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

The financial assessment helps the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and its developer understand what type of home the lessees can afford and allows them to plan and build homes that match the needs of the families who will live in them.

The pre-qualification letter that you submitted back in the summer of 2025 was for EKII-C. A mortgage pre-qualification is typically good for 30- to 90-days. Pre-qualifications expire because lenders want current information on:

Credit score

Income and employment

Debt levels

Interest rates and loan programs

Pre-qualification is a snapshot in time. Income, debts, or interest rates may have changed since your pre-qualification letter. The financial assessment gives us a current and complete picture so DHHL can match you with the right type of home.

Pre-qualification is only an initial estimate based on limited information. Even if you’re already prequalified, a financial assessment is needed to move to the next increment because it provides more detailed and accurate data. This information helps the developer understand buyers’ true purchasing capacity so they can plan and structure the community appropriately — such as deciding what types of homes to build, price ranges, and overall design. The assessment isn’t about questioning your pre-qualification; it’s about ensuring the data used for planning is reliable and reflective of real demand.

We encourage everyone to complete the assessment, especially kupuna and those on a fixed income. When we have this information, DHHL can look at different housing pathways, not just one. Being on a fixed income does not disqualify you. The assessment helps DHHL slow down, look carefully, and find the right path for your family.

Credit tells a story, but it’s not the wholestory. We see people who had medical bills, divorce, job loss, or who helped family and fell behind. That doesn’t mean DHHL gives up on you. Our programs are designed to work withpeople where they are. Sometimes it means repair over time. Sometimes it means a different housing option like rent-with-option-to-purchase. What matters is that we know your situation so we don’t close doors that could stay open.

This helps DHHL plan the home and the community – water, utilities, parking, and schools depend on who lives there.

That’s okay. You can list likely occupants and update later if things change. It’s better to plan conservatively. We just ask for your best estimate.

Sometimes adding too many people may limit certain financing opportunities. Larger homes mean higher costs, which can limit financing options. We want to balance space with affordability so the home remains comfortable financially.

Yes. Lease eligibility is separate; financing can include your spouse.

Even if deferring, completing the assessment helps us design homes that fit the real needs of the people waiting – size, cost, and type.

Your current lease is for Ka‘uluokaha‘i II-D, II-E, and II-F. It cannot be transferred to another project.

You may rescind your lease. If approved by the Hawaiian Homes Commission, you go back onto the waitlist based on your original application date. No guarantee exists.

We don’t have final numbers yet. The assessment helps us estimate ranges so homes stay affordable.

Deadlines help us move projects forward. Missing them may limit options.

If we don’t know what you can afford, we can’t build a home that meets your needs.

Even when you choose a vacant lot, you still need to qualify for a construction loan. That usually means having about a 20% down payment and the income to support the loan while the home is being built. For self-help, it’s similar. Even though you’re helping build the home, you still must qualify financially. The assessment protects you from starting something that becomes too heavy later.

Only authorized DHHL staff and trusted partners. Your information is kept confidential.

Until a transfer is approved, the current lessee remains responsible. Completing the assessment helps avoid delays and keeps options open.